Scam Calls Are Surging In Florida. Here’s How To Spot The Red Flags

Florida Scam Calls Surge

For Central Florida realtor Tammy Jo Gaylord, unwanted calls have become nearly impossible to escape. Gaylord said the number of spam calls she receives has climbed from roughly 20 to 30 a day to as many as 80 to 90 calls daily. The calls have become so frequent that they are interfering with her work and making it difficult to distinguish legitimate business calls from potential scams. Because Gaylord works in real estate, ignoring every unfamiliar number is not practical. Clients, other realtors, title companies and appraisers regularly contact her by phone, meaning legitimate calls can easily get lost among the flood of unwanted calls. The calls she has received have included automated pitches involving final expense services, Medicare benefits, grocery allowances and diabetic supplies. She said many of the calls appear to come from ordinary local phone numbers.

Caller ID May Not Be What It Seems

One of the biggest warning signs consumers should understand is that caller ID cannot always be trusted. Scammers can use caller ID spoofing to make a call appear to come from a local number, a business or even a government agency. Seeing a Florida area code or a familiar-looking number does not prove the person calling is actually located there.

Watch For Pressure And Fear

Unexpected calls that immediately create a sense of panic or urgency are another major warning sign. Scammers may claim that someone is facing arrest, owes money, has a problem with a bank account or must make an immediate payment to avoid losing money or benefits. The goal is often to pressure the person on the other end of the phone into making a decision before they have time to verify the information.

Never Give Personal Information To An Unexpected Caller

A caller knowing your name, address or other personal details does not necessarily mean the call is legitimate. Consumers should avoid providing account numbers, passwords, Social Security information or verification codes to unexpected callers. If someone claims to represent a bank, government agency or company, hang up and contact the organization directly using a phone number from its official website, mobile app, statement or another trusted source.

Be Careful With Payment Demands

Requests for unusual or difficult-to-reverse payment methods should immediately raise concerns. Scammers may demand payment through gift cards, prepaid debit cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency or payment apps. These methods can make it difficult for victims to recover their money. Consumers should be especially cautious if a caller insists that payment must happen immediately.

What To Do If You Receive A Suspicious Call

The safest response to a suspicious robocall is usually to hang up. Do not provide personal information or follow instructions from an unexpected caller simply because the caller claims to represent a legitimate organization. Consumers can also use call-blocking and call-labeling services offered through their phone carrier or mobile device. However, blocking individual numbers may not completely stop unwanted calls because scammers can continually change or spoof the numbers they use. Suspicious calls can be reported to federal authorities and the Florida Attorney General’s Office. Florida residents can report suspected scams to the Florida Attorney General’s Office at 1-866-9-NO-SCAM. For people like Gaylord who rely on their phones for work, the growing volume of scam calls creates an especially difficult problem. The key is to slow down, avoid sharing sensitive information and independently verify the identity of anyone making an unexpected request. An unfamiliar number is not automatically a scam, but a caller demanding money, personal information or immediate action should always be treated with caution.